Stephen Bruce- Phenomenal Metalworks

by Inna Race ·
Published September 21, 2015
· Updated September 21, 2015

by Alev Gefen
Photos by Ina RaceThe Bazemore Gallery, Philadelphia. We are on the prowl for amazing art and exciting events, as usual. On Saturday, September 12, we chanced upon meeting Stephen Bruce, a remarkable artist with a vision we have trouble putting into words. His work acts as a medium between science and art… Mr. Bruce graciously shared with us his views on helping younger minds see art everyday. We simply could not resist picking his brains a bit more!Private Paparazzi Productions: What can you tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic journey?

Stephen Bruce: I never really felt like I had any artistic abilities. It wasn’t fostered in me at a young age. In grade school my teacher would have me cleanup after art class projects to improve my chances for a passing grade. She felt like my art aptitude was so lacking. In my later years, I learned that art was about creativity and not execution.This was a profound thought to me. At the age of 29, I started a business that would help artists learn how to market their creativity. My background was in marketing. As my client list grew, often artists would ask me why I didn’t make a career of it. I really felt like my time had passed. But I had several friends who would encourage me to embark on a journey as an artist.PPP: Where do you find your inspiration?

SB: My biggest artistic influence is the greatest artist ever, Mother Earth. Every artist is imitates her. My seascapes are inspired by the beauty of the ocean, perhaps an aerial view from the sky. My abstracts are attempts to mimic the colors and patterns of some geological formations. And my landscapes are my best efforts to capture a fleeting moment in a sunset, a sunrise, or on the horizon.PPP: How did you come up with your unique method?

SB: I used to make copper bracelets as a child. They kept turning green. My father gave me a lecture and explained that oxidation is merely acids affecting the surface of metal. As an adult, I just thought it through backwards: What if I introduced an array of acids to the metal? Could I manipulate oxidation and control the resulting effects of color and pattern and texture? I wanted to explore that nexus of art and science.”

PPP: What message are you sending through your art?

SB: I want to convey that Mother Earth is the greatest artist ever. She produces a new masterpiece each minute. Some are etched into the canvas we call Earth. Most are washed away with time. Their beauty can be so subtle that many don’t even take notice, while others are so spectacular, we revisit them again and again. She is prolific, but humble. Her significance is present in every piece I create.

PPP: What has been your biggest struggle as an artist?

SB: Staying true to my inspiration and artistic vision. It is often tempting to create for the dollars and have no voice for what you are passionate about. It’s not a big struggle but one that I guard against.PPP: What advice would you give to a new artist?

SB: Find your voice, and then spend your non creative time attracting an audience for that voice. Don’t spend time worrying about the people that don’t get you; instead, focus on the ones that do.PPP: What artists from the past or present have influenced you most?

SB: Mark Rothko, for simplicity and subtle drama; Richard Mayhew for color, mood and emotion; Paul Cezanne for depth and texture.PPP: What exciting future projects are you working on?

SB: A body of work that is inspired by the color & textures of GeologyPrivate Paparazzi Production: What do you want to be known and remembered for?